Annie had expected Brian Starks to be difficult about visiting the countryside.
She had not expected him to arrive at seven in the morning with two cars, three large bags, and an expression suggesting he was preparing for a military operation.
She stood at the entrance of the Samson residence, staring at the vehicles.
“What exactly are you doing?”
Brian glanced at her. “Taking you to see Auntie Mei.”
“I can see that. Why does it look like we’re relocating?”
One of the drivers opened the trunk.
Inside were neatly packed boxes of groceries, household supplies, and several expensive-looking gift packages.
Annie turned slowly toward Brian. “What are those?”
“Things for her.”
“She didn’t ask for things.”
“She may need them.”
“She needs peace and quiet. You’re already ruining one of those.”
Brian ignored the comment and reached for her bag.
Annie pulled it away. “I can carry my own belongings.”
“I know.”
“Then stop trying to take them.”
“I’m making sure you don’t forget anything.”
“I’m not going to war.”
“No.”
“Then why do you look like a man escorting a royal delegation?”
Brian looked toward the packed vehicles. “My mother sent some gifts.”
Annie narrowed her eyes. “Your mother?”
“And my father.”
“And your brother?”
“Jude sent snacks.”
Annie paused. “What kind?”
Brian gestured toward one of the bags.
Annie opened it and immediately brightened.
“Chocolate.”
“Among other things.”
She took out a packet and inspected it. “Jude may be the most useful member of your family.”
“Don’t tell him that.”
“I’ll tell him twice.”
The front door opened, and Eleanor stepped outside. She wore a soft blue dress and carried a small container of food.
“Darling, you forgot your breakfast.”
Annie accepted it. “I was about to eat.”
“You were arguing with Brian.”
“That counts as exercise.”
Eleanor smiled and looked toward Brian. “Thank you for taking her.”
“It’s no trouble.”
William appeared behind Eleanor, his expression thoughtful. “Annie, call us when you arrive.”
“Dad, I’m visiting Auntie Mei, not crossing the ocean.”
“Still.”
Annie softened. “I’ll call.”
Linda stood near the doorway, her arms folded. Her gaze moved over Brian, then toward the vehicles.
“Are all those gifts necessary?” she asked.
“No,” Annie replied. “But apparently the Starks family believes Auntie Mei has secretly opened a department store.”
Brian looked at Linda. “My mother wanted to show her appreciation.”
Linda’s expression shifted slightly. “That’s considerate.”
Annie looked at her in surprise.
Linda glanced away. “What?”
“Nothing. I’m just recording the moment.”
“Don’t.”
“Too late.”
Nicholas appeared with a grin. “Take pictures. Linda being nice is a rare event.”
Linda turned toward him. “You have ten seconds to disappear.”
Nicholas immediately stepped back inside.
Annie laughed as she entered the car.
Brian closed the door behind her.
She looked up when he took the driver’s seat. “You’re driving yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.”
“Is that your answer to everything?”
“Usually.”
Annie fastened her seat belt. “You need new answers.”
“I’ll consider it.”
The city gradually disappeared behind them.
Tall buildings gave way to smaller shops, open fields, narrow roads, and familiar stretches of countryside. Annie watched the scenery change through the window, her excitement growing with every mile.
She had not realized how much she missed this place.
The quiet roads.
The uneven fences.
The small roadside stalls selling fruit and roasted corn.
Even the dusty air felt familiar.
Brian glanced at her. “You’re smiling.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You are.”
“Maybe the road is funny.”
“What’s funny about it?”
“It has character.”
Brian looked at the road. “It has potholes.”
“Exactly. Character.”
He shook his head.
Annie rested her cheek against the window. “We’re close.”
“Are you nervous?”
She looked at him.
The question was unexpected.
“Why would I be nervous?”
“You haven’t seen Auntie Mei since you left.”
Annie’s smile faded slightly.
“I’m not nervous,” she said. “I just don’t know how she’ll react.”
“She raised you for eighteen years.”
“She might think I’ve changed.”
“You have changed.”
Annie turned toward him.
Brian continued, “That doesn’t mean you’re no longer the person she knows.”
She looked at him for a long moment.
“Was that supposed to be comforting?”
“Yes.”
“You’re improving.”
“I’m relieved.”
Annie smiled again, but this time she did not turn away.
When they finally arrived at the small house, Auntie Mei was standing outside, holding a cloth in one hand.
The moment she saw Annie step out of the car, she froze.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then Annie ran.
“Auntie Mei!”
The older woman dropped the cloth and opened her arms.
Annie crashed into her embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist. Auntie Mei held her just as fiercely, one hand pressing against the back of Annie’s head.
“My child,” she whispered. “My little girl.”
Annie buried her face against her shoulder.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“You didn’t call me yesterday.”
“I called three times.”
“My phone was charging.”
“You should have called me back.”
“I was busy.”
“Busy doing what?”
“Being beautiful.”
Auntie Mei pulled back and smacked her lightly on the arm.
“You haven’t changed.”
Annie grinned. “I’ve become more expensive.”
Auntie Mei laughed, though her eyes were wet.
Brian remained beside the car, watching quietly.
Auntie Mei finally noticed him.
Her gaze moved from Brian to Annie, then back again.
“And who is this?”
Annie turned around.
Brian stepped forward and bowed his head respectfully. “Good morning, Auntie Mei. My name is Brian Starks.”
Auntie Mei looked him over carefully.
Annie leaned closer to her. “He’s the difficult man I told you about.”
Brian glanced at Annie.
Auntie Mei’s eyes widened. “You told me about him?”
“Only the important parts.”
“Which parts?”
“That he’s arrogant, stubborn, and terrible at eating.”
Brian calmly said, “She also told me you make excellent soup.”
Auntie Mei’s expression softened immediately.
Annie stared at him. “You’re bribing her.”
“I’m being honest.”
“You’re dangerous.”
Auntie Mei waved them toward the house. “Come inside before you start fighting at my door.”
Annie took Brian’s hand and pulled him forward.
He looked down at their joined hands.
She released him immediately.
“I was making sure you didn’t get lost.”
“We were standing in front of the house.”
“You’re unfamiliar with the area.”
Brian’s mouth curved faintly. “Of course.”
Inside, the house looked almost exactly as Annie remembered.
The old wooden table stood near the window. The kitchen smelled of herbs and freshly cooked food. Her childhood photographs remained on the shelf, including one where she had missing teeth and an expression of deep outrage.
Brian stopped in front of it.
Annie followed his gaze and groaned.
“No.”
“You were young.”
“I was betrayed by whoever took that picture.”
“You look angry.”
“I was probably hungry.”
Auntie Mei entered with a tray of tea. “She was angry because I wouldn’t let her eat cake before dinner.”
Annie pointed at her. “You promised not to tell people that.”
“I promised nothing.”
Brian sat down, his attention still on the photograph.
Annie quickly moved in front of it. “Look somewhere else.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“You’re embarrassed.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
She picked up a cushion and threw it at him.
Brian caught it easily.
Auntie Mei watched them with an amused expression.
Then she looked at Annie.
“You seem happy.”
The words were quiet.
Annie’s smile slowly faded.
She glanced at Brian, who had turned his attention toward the tea.
“I am,” she admitted.
Auntie Mei nodded, as though that was all she needed to hear.
After tea, Annie took Auntie Mei outside to the small garden behind the house. The two of them sat beneath the old mango tree, while Brian remained inside speaking with a neighbor who had come to greet them.
Auntie Mei studied Annie’s face.
“Are they treating you well?”
Annie knew exactly who she meant.
“The Samsons?”
“Yes.”
“They’re trying.”
“And the man?”
Annie looked down at the grass. “Brian?”
Auntie Mei nodded.
“He’s difficult.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Annie sighed. “He’s kind. Sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“He’s still arrogant.”
Auntie Mei smiled. “You like him.”
Annie immediately looked up. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”
“Because you speak about him even when I don’t ask.”
“I speak about him because he’s irritating.”
“You never used to talk so much about irritating people.”
Annie opened her mouth, then closed it.
Auntie Mei reached for her hand.
“Does he make you feel safe?”
The question erased Annie’s playful expression.
She thought about Brian’s calm presence, the way he respected her decisions even when he disagreed, and how he had listened when she spoke about Auntie Mei.
“Yes,” she said eventually. “I think he does.”
Auntie Mei squeezed her fingers. “Then don’t be afraid to let yourself be happy.”
Annie’s throat tightened.
“I’m not afraid.”
“You’ve always been stubborn.”
“I learned from you.”
“I’m also wise.”
“That part skipped me.”
Auntie Mei laughed and pulled Annie into her arms.
For a moment, Annie allowed herself to be held like the child she had once been.
When Annie returned inside, she found Brian in the kitchen.
He stood beside the stove, holding a bowl while Auntie Mei explained something to him.
Annie stopped at the doorway.
“What are you doing?”
Brian looked over. “Helping.”
“You’re cooking?”
“Auntie Mei asked me to carry the bowl.”
“Very impressive. A major contribution to society.”
Auntie Mei placed vegetables on the table. “Your husband is polite.”
Annie nearly tripped over her own feet.
“He is not my husband.”
Brian said nothing.
But the corner of his mouth lifted.
Auntie Mei looked between them. “Not yet?”
“Auntie Mei!”
The older woman laughed and continued preparing lunch.
Annie turned toward Brian, lowering her voice. “You could have corrected her.”
“Would you have preferred that?”
She paused.
“No.”
Brian looked at her.
Annie immediately pointed at him. “Don’t interpret that.”
“I didn’t.”
“You were about to.”
“I was only standing here.”
“You stand arrogantly.”
“That’s new.”
Lunch was simple: rice, vegetables, chicken stew, and Auntie Mei’s famous soup.
Annie ate with enthusiasm, while Brian listened as Auntie Mei told stories about Annie’s childhood.
“She once climbed onto the roof because she wanted to rescue a bird,” Auntie Mei said.
Annie stopped chewing. “The bird was in danger.”
“You climbed up without telling anyone.”
“I was twelve.”
“You broke three roof tiles.”
“They were already weak.”
Brian looked at her. “You’ve always been troublesome.”
Annie pointed her spoon at him. “Careful. You’re eating my food.”
Auntie Mei laughed so hard she had to put down her spoon.
Brian actually smiled.
Annie noticed.
And this time, she didn’t look away.
After lunch, Brian helped Auntie Mei carry the gift boxes inside. She tried to refuse several times, but he calmly explained that his parents had sent them with respect and gratitude.
Annie watched from the doorway.
He did not behave as though he was doing her a favor.
He did not speak down to Auntie Mei or treat the modest house as something beneath him.
He simply helped.
When they were preparing to leave, Auntie Mei pulled Annie aside and pressed a small cloth bag into her hands.
“Your favorite snacks.”
Annie opened it and smiled.
“You remembered.”
“I remember everything you like.”
Annie glanced toward Brian.
He was standing near the car, waiting.
The words struck her differently this time.
She had once thought being remembered was an ordinary thing.
Now she understood how precious it could be.
Auntie Mei touched her cheek. “Come again soon.”
“I will.”
“Don’t let him keep you too busy.”
Annie looked toward Brian. “He wouldn’t dare.”
Brian called from the car, “I heard that.”
“Good!”
Auntie Mei laughed and kissed Annie’s forehead.
Annie hugged her one last time before getting into the car.
As they drove away, she turned to look through the rear window until the house disappeared from view.
Brian did not interrupt her.
He simply reached across the center console and placed his hand over hers.
Annie looked down at their joined hands.
This time, she did not pull away.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Brian kept his eyes on the road. “For what?”
“For bringing me home.”
His fingers tightened gently around hers.
“You’re welcome.”
Annie looked out the window, her heart strangely full.
She had returned to the place she came from.
And somehow, she had brought someone with her who was beginning to feel like he belonged in every part of her life.